Add a motion path animation effect

You can apply motion path animation effects to move slide objects in a sequence that tells an effective story.

For example, the plane on the right (below) shows the starting point of the plane, and the dotted line between the two planes shows the path it will take when the animation plays. The transparent image on the left is where the plane will end up when the motion path animation is done.

Add a motion path to an object

Click the object you want to animate.

On the Animations tab, click Add Animation.

Scroll down to Motion Paths, and pick one.

Tip: If you choose the Custom path option, you will draw the path that you want the object to take.

To stop drawing a custom path, press Esc.

Advanced motion path options

If you don’t see a motion path that you want, at the bottom of the gallery, click More Motion Paths.

Click an animation to see a preview of how the object will move on your slide.

Once you pick the motion path you want, click OK.

To remove and animation, on the slide, click the motion path (dotted line with arrow), and then press Delete.

Editing motion paths

To do things like change the direction of the motion path, edit the individual points of the motion path, or to lock (make it so others can’t change the animation) or unlock the animation, click Effect Options.

To preview the motion path, click the object on the slide, and then click Animations > Preview.

Tip:Preview is located on the Animations tab, just below the File tab on the far left.